Bedbugs - Tenant or Landlord Responsibility

[Steven Primiano]

We moved a new tenant into a 2-family home in New Jersey this past July.  She recently notified us that she found a bedbug and a week later found 3 more in her mattress.  We tried arguing that a bedbug is something she or someone associated to her brought into the home and therefore it is her responsibility.  There is no provision in our lease that specifies how to handle pests. 

Because this is a 2-family house and we don't want the other tenant to become affected, we agreed to pay for an inspection.  The exterminator confirmed the mattress is the source of the bedbugs as they weren't anywhere else in the apartment.  We need to act fast before they become a bigger problem and the tenant is telling us she can't afford the treatment.  We offered to pay for the treatment and have her pay us back $25 per month extra when we collect rent.

Any experience with this in NJ?  My thoughts is that bedbugs would be the same as lice - it is something that a particular person brought into the house and should be the tenant's responsibility.  Not like mice or roaches that would ultimately be the responsibility of the landlord.  We are looking into what the state specifies in their laws, but looking for any advice someone can offer.

Thanks,
Steve

[John Underwood]

@Steven Primiano I have in my lease that I will pay for pest control if a problem is found in the first 30 days of the lease.

It further states that anything beyond the first 30 days becomes the tenants responsibility.

I have split the bill or even paid for pest control on a case by case basis.

I would have done the same as you since you have a 2 family unit. If you add this to your lease there will be no question in the future that you can require them to pay for it or at least reimburse you. 

I like the adding $25 to their rent until they pay you back, but they could protest this since your lease doesn't address it specifically.